A COMPOSITE team from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources intercepted a commercial fishing boat for allegedly engaging in illegal fishing in the municipal waters of Bantayan Island in Cebu on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
The team led by Alberto Simbajon confiscated 20 banyeras of assorted fishes worth P25,000 and the P300,000 worth of fish nets used by the boat captain and his crew members in the allegedly illegal fishing operation.
Simbajon said that they intercepted F/B Rain 3 between the islands of Botigues and Doong, four kilometers South West of the Bantayan Port.
Simbajon’s team also arrested and detained ship captain Antonio Dignadice, 33, from Victoria City in Negros Occidental and his five crew men.
All the crew men and the boat were released, while Dignadice was charged with three complaints for allegedly violating provisions of Republic Act 10654 (The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998). He was later released after posting P26,000 bail bond.
The complaints filed against the ship captain were violations of Section 86 for fishing in municipal waters; violation of Section 95 for using active gear in municipal waters, and Section 100 for fishing during close season, which started last Nov. 15 up to Feb. 15, 2017.
Simbajon said that Dignadice’s arrest last Dec. 25 was already the second time.
He said that Dignadice was also arrested last Nov. 23 for the same offense.
Dignadice was also charged during his first arrest, and was released after posting bail.
Simbajon said that Dignadice will be arraigned on Feb. 27 next year for all the charges, including the recent ones, filed against him.
The seized fishes were distributed to a government hospital, church and jail.